Mayor Lee takes a victory lap on Mid-Market

Published 8:44 pm, Monday, November 4, 2013

Developers want to build a condominium complex where a private tennis and swim club now sits.

Developers want to build a condominium complex where a private tennis and swim club now sits.

Photo: Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle

Mayor Lee takes a victory lap on Mid-Market

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Mayor Ed Lee has said the potential Warriors arena on Piers 30-32 would be his "legacy project." But based on the last two years, I'd suggest he tout something else - the revitalization of Mid-Market.

The influx of tech companies to the blighted area between Fifth and 11th streets, encouraged by a Lee-backed tax break, has been well documented. On Monday, Lee strolled along the street to praise businesses that had set up shop among the vacant storefronts without getting a tax break.

They included the sound engineering firm Dolby Laboratories, credit card reader Square and ride-share provider Uber. But there are also mom-and-pop operations that predate the recent population boom, like Sam's Diner, which Jeannie Kim opened in 2006.

"Everybody thought I was crazy," Kim said, "especially to be open at night. There was no life on Market Street. It took vision and a little courage."

That changed two years ago when Twitter announced it was moving in.

"It happened all of a sudden," she said. "I would say in the last year we've seen a 30 percent increase in business."

Meanwhile, Huckleberry Bicycles continues to set the standard for the new Mid-Market small businesses. Celebrating its second anniversary this week, the Huckleberry store has expanded into the space next door, and its owners are looking optimistically out the window at a transforming Market Street.

"This will become the grand boulevard that it was supposed to be," said co-founder Zack Stender. "It is becoming a more pleasant place to be, the street is cleaner, and we are seeing a huge influx of customers."

Now, two points need to be made. First, as pointed out in a recent Chronicle column, the mayor's six-year exemption has cost the city tax revenue.

The mayor's response Monday, "If the businesses didn't come here, we wouldn't get any tax at all."

Fair enough. To revitalize the area there had to be some trade-offs. If Mid-Market is transformed, the lost tax dollars will be largely forgotten.

And second, Lee didn't do this by himself. Former Mayor Gavin Newsom got the ball rolling on Mid-Market, and firebrand former Supervisor Chris Daly, who rarely got any kudos from The Chronicle, should be recognized for arm-twisting Trinity Place developer Sam Sangiacomo to include 360 units of affordable housing in his huge project at Eighth and Market.

But you know the rule in politics: When something happens on your watch, you get the credit. Strolling down Market on sunny Monday morning, Lee looked like the mayor who transformed Mid-Market.

The issue of the development of 8 Washington will finally be decided in Tuesday's election, and insiders say proponents of Propositions B and C should be nervous. A "yes" vote would allow condos to be built on a parking lot and tennis club on the Embarcadero.

But the spirited and well-funded opposition group may have the upper hand. The idea of including two ballot issues to confuse the issue was shrewd - C is so convoluted supporters only concentrated on B - and an expected low turnout will make passage difficult.

The best hope is a better-than-expected showing by residents on the west side of the city. If they stay home, no chance.

Annals of crime: Things you said in third grade that don't work as well now. SFPD's Richmond Station has a report of an incident with the driver of a Lyft vehicle who said his passenger, dressed in a Julius Caesar costume, was intoxicated and obnoxious. Asked to exit the vehicle, the passenger replied, "Make me." A physical confrontation occurred, more officers arrived, and the suspect was handcuffed and arrested. His response: a demand to take off the handcuffs so they could see "who the tough one was." That was subsequently established.